Mar 17, 2020

College of the Mainland is pleased to announce a $40,000 anonymous donation for the college’s newly launched Opening Doors Promise Scholarship program. The gift, which marks the program’s first privately-funded donation, will work in tandem with the recently launched Texas City phase of the program and allows all Class of 2020 La Marque High School students to attend COM full time, tuition free. 

“We are very grateful to have such generous friends of our college who support our work as we strive to provide greater access to college,” said COM President Dr. Warren Nichols. “The footprint of this gift will leave a lasting impact on the lives of not only our students but the greater surrounding communities that we serve.”

The Opening Doors Promise Scholarship, which launched in early March, highlights the college’s ongoing commitment to provide accessible education to students in its surrounding community. This phase of the program will provide a "last-dollar scholarship" for any Class of 2020 La Marque High School student by offering funding to fill the gap for the remaining tuition and fees after grants or scholarships have been applied. Through the program, students can earn an associate degree or complete a workforce training certificate program with no tuition or fees. 

The La Marque High School donation follows a recent donation from the City of Texas City that provides free tuition to COM for all high school graduates who reside in Texas City, including those from La Marque High School.  This gift will extend eligibility to La Marque High School Class of 2020 graduates who live outside of Texas City. There is no income or high school GPA requirement.

Other community leaders are encouraged to consider joining in support of the program as COM works to expand the scholarship to surrounding areas.

To become an Opening Doors Promise Scholar, graduating seniors must complete two simple steps by the designated deadline dates below:

  • STEP 1 – May 15, 2020: Apply for admission through www.applytexas.org and choose “College of the Mainland.”
  • STEP 2 – June 1, 2020: Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov and list “College of the Mainland” or enter code 007096.

To learn more about the Opening Doors Promise Scholarship at College of the Mainland, call (409) 933-8508.